The MAD Mix Podcast

This week, we're joined by Brent Choi, an ad agency creative with over 25 years of experience who most recently held the CEO/CCO position at DDB Canada. Here's what we covered: [02:58] The importance of having a combination of business acumen and creativity for senior roles in the ad industry [09:30] The impact the global pandemic has had towards workplace culture [15:50] The experience of being a...

Season 2, episode 25! Here's what Dak and Malick discuss: [03:10] The brilliance of the Spotify Wrapped 2020 campaign [10:10] New Apple 'AirPods Max' headphones - When will we stop mindlessly buying their products? [13:50] Spotify Stories - The nuance behind their Stories and why it could work [15:30] What will the vaccine distribution look like in Canada? Will brands get involved? [24:40] Why do...

Season 2, episode 24! Here's what Dak and Malick discuss: [03:00] What did Black Friday/Cyber Monday look like this year? [10:20] Is there still a need for Cyber Monday with more consumers purchasing online during Black Friday? [14:10] Will we see an increase in supporting small businesses for holiday shopping over the big retailers? [20:46] Is the mysterious metal monolith showing up in different...

Season 2, episode 23! Here's what Dak and Malick discuss: [07:10] Updates made to Instagram to further push Marketplace and Reels on the user base. [18:07] Twitter introduces Stories and it raises the question of: “Are social media platforms running out of innovative ideas?” [24:22] Apps like Clubhouse that use exclusivity to build hype. Is it warranted? Listener topics [35:55] How will brands try...

Season 2, episode 22! Here's what Dak and Malick discuss: [04:10] Release of the ps5 - Is the lack of pre-order slots available tied to hype marketing? [11:37] Do we expect brands to be vocal about politics? Do we care? [22:05] Facebook/Twitter’s role in handling misinformation in the 2020 Election [30:30] What are CGI influencers and where do we see this going? What are the negative implications?...

Season 2, episode 21! Here's what Dak and Malick discuss: [02:35] After a few months, have agencies made efforts towards a more diverse industry? [12:00] 2020TheGame - Why an ad agency making a joke about the death of George Floyd and BLM went way too far and the importance of calling these things out publicly [22:15] Brands taking a political stance and pushing “VOTE” messaging. Will this have an...

Season 2, episode 20! Here's what Dak and Malick discuss: [04:35] Viral Tok Tok that featured an Ocean Spray bottle - Breaking down the brand’s response to the moment [16:11] At what point should a brand respond if they are featured in a viral moment? [19:55] What is it that we love/hate about Apple’s marketing? Does it always work? [29:14] Uncle Ben’s has rebranded as “Ben’s”. How does this help...

Season 2, episode 19! Here's what Dak and Malick discuss: [05:05] What does returning to work in a physical office look like right now? [10:00] How should brands be preparing for a potential second wave of COVID? [18:00] LinkedIn and Twitter introduce Stories to their platform [30:46] What will Black Friday shopping look like during a pandemic? [37:34] What does the future of AI look like in adver...

This week, it's Malick and Dak unpacking their thoughts on The Social Dilemma documentary-drama on Netflix. Here's what was covered: [01:50] Our initial thoughts on The Social Dilemma [12:00] Is having our online behaviour sold to advertisers really that bad? What are the dangers? [22:05] Mental health impact of social media on teenagers [32:20] What if we just got rid of certain social media feat...

This week, it's Malick and Dak covering the following topics:  [01:00] The Travis Scott x McDonald’s collaboration [11:40] How authentic are influencers today? [21:03] Popeyes’ marketing strategy for chicken sandwich hype in Canada [27:00] The battle of the chicken sandwich in Canada - KFC vs Popeyes [34:13] Why are brands still trying to use MAGA and flip it into something else? Be sure to s...

This week, we're joined by Jerome Cheng, a creative producer for MLSE (Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment). Here's what we covered: [12:20] Impact of NBA player strike and movement around social justice [25:38] Is there a responsibility for NBA players to speak up on issues of injustice? [27:34] History of WNBA players protesting for change and the differences in the approach compared to the N...

This week, it's just us covering the topics on our own! Here's what we covered: [01:10] What is the “new normal” that we’re experiencing months into lockdown? [18:30] Is remote work the future for ad agencies? [25:47] Do we think Instagram Reels will strive considering the competition? [35:26] Potential subscription model for Twitter in the future. Would you ever pay to use parts of social media?...

This week, we're joined by Jermaine Murray, a career strategist and tech recruiter. Here's what we covered: [15:07] Why aren’t black people being hired for high paying jobs? [25:27] What does a recruiter do exactly? [32:35] Why recruiters should focus on genuinely trying to improve the situation of their candidates [38:46] What does long term change look like for brands that are starting to focus...

This week, we're joined by Janice Liu, a senior vice president in the digital ad space, a tech founder, and so much more. Here's what we covered: [10:20] How Janice balances running Filling the Gap, an initiative helping empowering women in the professional space while also working her “9 to 5” [21:30] Balancing multiple projects in addition to a day-to-day job without dropping the ball [28:40] Wh...

This week, we're joined by Fiorella Campodonico, a social media manager and digital marketer currently working for one of the world's largest beverage companies. Here's what we covered: [10:20] #StopHateForProfit - Brands boycotting buying ads on Facebook. What’s going on with this movement? [17:12] From the consumer perspective, what would boycotting Facebook look like? [22:50] Are brands being a...

This week, we're joined by Danica Nelson, a senior marketing communications manager, marketing consultant, and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion advocate. Here's what we covered: [07:26] What is the role of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) teams and how to approach and set them up properly [16:47] How can we get more Black people and POC's in marketing/advertising and tech? [20:57] Bringi...

This week, we're joined by Seth Waterman, a business director for an ad agency in Toronto. Here's what we covered: [04:36] The impact of Juneteenth. How should companies handle this? [12:50] Snapchat removing a lens for Juneteenth that received backlash. Is lack of representation the reason this keeps happening? [22:25] Brands finally addressing racism within their products like Aunt Jemima and Un...

This week, we're joined by Anton Mwewa, an art director and photographer working for an ad agency in Toronto. Here's what we covered: [4:24] Brand responses during the protests that have stood out [8:18] Where is the internal Black representation for companies? [13:10] #BlackoutTuesday posts from brands as lazy support. What does long term support look like? [22:10] What’s it like being black in a...

This week, we're joined by Joshua Richards, the director of creative technology for john st advertising, and a diversity and inclusion advocate. Here's what we covered: [3:10] Why it’s important to stay informed right now with racism in America [10:45] At what point is the support on social media inauthentic? [17:42] Brands responding during the protests [26:07] Do brands have the privilege to be...

Here's what was covered on episode 7: Things are starting to re-open but is it safe? [1:45] Reopening strategy for the NBA [8:00] “I’m watching cause I’m bored in quarantine" (esports, Last Dance documentary) [13:40] Wimbledon’s pandemic insurance payout and the impact their planning will have on other companies [19:50] Airbnb layoffs and what travel might look like post-COVID [25:40] Can you beco...

For episode 6, we brought back Fanny R-K, a guest from season 1, an experienced brand strategist, and hilarious stand-up comic. Here's what we covered: Which quarantine measures will remain long term? [3:07] How will the way brands approach marketing change post-quarantine? [9:00] How might consumers’ perception of brands change? [20:55] Masterclass ads and the desire to be productive right now [2...

Episode 5 is here and there's still so much to talk about related to COVID-19. Malick and Dak talk about how their personal lives might change post-pandemic, how the services we used before might become obsolete, brands advertising during COVID-19, and whether or not this celebration of essential workers will last. How our personal lives might change post-COVID [8:03] Trends between brands running...

For episode 4, Malick and Dak continue the podcast remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. They give their opinions on how society will react and change when it's safe to be outside again, break down some of the challenges and benefits of working from home, discuss brands pushing ad messages during this time and why they don't work, and much more! Be sure to subscribe to our podcast channel so that...

Malick and Dak are here with the third episode of a new season. COVID-19 has been the top of news for the last couple of months and the duo dive right into its effect on all industries. They discuss how companies have responded so far, what it might look like for industries if the pandemic continues much longer, and the part we play as citizens in all of this.  Be sure to subscribe to the pod...

Malick and Dak are back with episode 2, and joined by Duncan Boyd (copywriter), Jay Fleming (strategist), and Dan Pozzebon (market researcher) to break down the following: Political memes and brand inauthenticity [2:00] Tim Horton's new Roll Up the Rim experience [18:10] Are we still addicted to our phones? [24:30] Vine coming back as Byte [30:00] Burger King's moldy burger campaign [34:40] Be sur...